Ke$ha Says She’s A Feminist ‘In Some Ways’ But Refuses To Say If She’s Pro Choice

“Are you a feminist?” is a seemingly simple question that many celebrities manage to flub spectacularly in ways that reveal they don’t understand what feminism is at all. Hence, it was with some trepidation that I clicked on this “Ke$ha on feminism” story earlier this morning.

The good news is, she got it partly right. When asked by The Financial Times if she considers herself a feminist, she gave a logical answer defending her partying and numerous sex buddies (both human and supernatural):

“In some ways. In the ways that I feel I can do the same things men can do, and be just as rock ’n’ roll and bad ass and not feel shameful or be shamed for it…If men can talk about drinking in every awesome rock ’n’ roll song and every awesome rap song, why can’t a woman? Just because I drink doesn’t mean I’m a drunk. Just because I have sex, and I’m not embarrassed about it, doesn’t mean I’m a whore. If men can do it, why can’t a woman do it? I really feel one of my main reasons for being on this earth is to level the playing field just a little bit.”

Ding ding ding! Feminism means women can do the same fun things as men and not be subjected to a double standard. However, when questioned about abortion rights, one of the main causes uniting American feminists right now, she balked:

“As far as the political side, I don’t really go there because everyone has their opinions on that…But I think women and their bodies – I think that debate has been going on since time began.”

Beneath all the glitter and animal print, Ke$ha is a savvy business woman, and she’s obviously wary of alienating any of her potential fan base. But were red state parents really going to let their kids listen to her music in the first place?

If I may get up on my soapbox for a minute, a huge part of what’s fucked up about our culture with regard to women is that cultural mouthpieces like Ke$ha can be sexually frank to the max, but when it comes to talking about the real world issues surrounding sex, they clam up. It’s like movies where you see people fucking willy nilly but never using condoms, or girls who go to great lengths to make themselves objects of male desire, but have to idea how to ask for what they want in bed. I doubt Ke$ha has any trouble with that last one, so I can only hope that someday she’s able to have a mature discussion about the rest of it. Maybe then she’ll be a feminist in more ways than “some.”

I wonder if she avoided the question because she’s a big time animal rights activist and vegetarian. Maybe she didn’t want to deal with the whole you care more about animals than babies thing.

jamiepeck

I believe in abortions for animals, too!

Heather

Just because some men do daft things, it doesn’t make it correct if women also adopt the same actions of stupidity. For instance this culture of getting heavily drunk I think is not fun or appropriate in terms of health. In Europe (having studied in Portugal and Italy) people drink socially without getting drunk. Why does feminism exist to promote things like getting drunk, or drugs (i.e the rock and roll lifestyle), or sleeping around. When it comes to sex, we should be providing decent sex education and contraception. In the Netherlands they have a great sex education system for teenagers and they have good access to contraception. Hence in the Netherlands teenage pregnancy rates are low, plus data shows that they are more likely to stay in long term monogamous relationships. Whilst we in the US don’t have a good sex education system then promote sleeping around. The real battle for feminism is equality in terms of education, jobs and equal pay. We also have to include men in the feminist movement, men and women are equal, but so often we bash men, that they don’t participate in the feminist debate. As far as Kesha most of her statements are designed to create hype, controversy and who knows if they have any basis of truth.

Rose

Nothing is wrong with her doing what our bodies are designed to do. If she uses contraception and practices safe sex, then what is wrong with it? How is it stupidity? It’s not. She’s just sexually free and doesn’t let gender roles and society’s expectations on how women should act be a burden for her. They’re all influenced by religion. Ke$ha is on in a relationship and cheating; she is single and enjoying her life. Anybody who wants to put her down for that is either sexually frustrated, oppressed, or jealous.

Rose

not* in a relationship

Rose

and also, stop distorting what she said. She said that just because she drinks, doesn’t mean she’s a drunk. See how you ended up doing the very thing that she was complaining about? A woman drinks and then people call her a drunk, which is exactly what you did.

Jessie

You have no idea what feminism promotes. It does not promote getting drunk or doing drugs, you idiot.